Monthly Archives: January 2010

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

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If you are spending too much time on the computer, typing and clicking on your mouse, in the wrong position, and are experiencing joint pain specifically wrist pain, you might be a candidate for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS).

What is it?image

Carpus is a word derived from the Greek word "karpos" which means "wrist." The wrist is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint. The tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index, and middle fingers of the hand. Any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve. Irritation of the median nerve in this manner causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index, and the middle fingers, a condition known as "carpal tunnel syndrome."

Initial treatment usually includes rest, immobilization of the wrist in a splint, and occasionally ice application. Patients whose occupations are aggravating the symptoms should modify their activities. For example, computer keyboards and chair height may need to be adjusted to optimize comfort. These measures, as well as periodic resting and range of motion stretching exercise of the wrists can actually prevent the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome that are caused by repetitive overuse. Underlying conditions or diseases are treated individually.

How to Get Rid of Dark UnderEye Circles Naturally

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If you are like me and have erratic sleeping schedules, you probably would have deark circles under eyes like me. While having dark undereye circles are probably more genetic than acquired, here are some tips to prevent them from happening. Remember, prevention is always better than treatment!

To avoid getting dark under-eye circles follow these quick tips:

  1. Drink more water
  2. Try to get more sleep
  3. Drink less alcohol
  4. Consume less sugar
  5. Avoid caffeine
  6. Don’t allow stress to build
  7. Use moisturizers with avocado oil, sesame, Vitamin K and Vitamin E

And if you already have them, here are natural ways to treat them. Most of them can be found in your kitchen!

  • Cut an unwaxed cucumber into slices, cool in refrigerator and place on eyes for 10 minutes.
  • Massage with almond oil under and around eyes.
  • Massage with peanut oil under and around eyes.
  • Place two tea bags (preferably chamomile tea) in cold water for 5 minutes, than place on eyes for 10 minutes.
  • Apply a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice, rinse after 5 minutes (be sure not to get into eyes).
  • Grate an unwaxed cucumber or a small scrubbed (preferably red) potato. Put the gratings on two gauze pads, than place on eyes for 10 minutes.
  • Apply a mixture of lemon juice and tomato juice, let sit for 5 minutes, than rinse (be sure not to get into eyes).
  • Apply crushed mint leaves under the eyes for 20 minutes.
  • Dip cotton balls in rose water and apply to under eye for 10 minutes.
  • Eat foods rich in vitamin E, vitamin C, and iron.

Kitchen Ideas

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One of the most used areas in the house, aside from the bathroom, is the kitchen. I actually refer to it as the heart of the home, because it is where meals are cooked to keep the people in the house full and happy. So you would not surprised if I want a lovely, state-of-the-art but still very cozy kitchen.

I personally would like a big kitchen, complete with a pantry area, kitchen countertops, breakfast nook and a cooking area with exhaust. I love the idea of my kids walking in the kitchen after school, looking for something to eat, or going straight there when waking up. In short, I dream of the idea that the first place they will look for when looking for me is the kitchen. (Of course, that is just a dream. If my kitchen has my laptop in there, chances are I would ALWAYS be in there).

I am also toying about an all-white kitchen, accentuated with greeneries. White just screams immaculately clean to me. Kitchen Faucets need to be double-handled with chrome finishing (I am not that extravagant to dream of gold!) – minimalist. It also needs to be high enough so I can wash my pots and pans without having to slouch my back (I am tall) and needs to be water-efficient. There are quite a few at FaucetsonSale.com that caught my eye – and yes, they are on SALE!

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Pollan’s simple eating wisdom

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While most people are looking for the best (and easiest + fastest) ways to lose weight (www.bestwaytoloseweight.org), I chanced up some simple eating wisdom foodie and journalist Michael Pollan in his book "Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual."

Here are some points in his book that I want to highlight:

No. 1: The "Western diet," of processed foods and fats and sugars, is not good for the body.

No. 2: Societies and groups that eat a diet rooted in tradition, even if it is an American Indian diet built around maize and beans or a high-fat Inuit diet, overall do not suffer the same diseases seen in Americans today.

 

Eat food: Real food. Not edible food-like substances, as Pollan describes them.


Eat your colors: Fruits and veggies are naturally colorful, an indication of the nutrients in them. A real food rainbow.


Don’t eat foods made in places where the workers have to wear surgical caps.


Don’t feed yourself with "food" from the same place where you buy fuel for your car.


Shop the peripheries of the supermarket: The produce, dairy, and meats are on the outside. The Pop Tarts, chips, sugary cereals and other processed junk tends to be on the inside aisles (coffee, oatmeal and whole grain breads are a few exceptions).


Don’t eat anything Grandma or her Grandma wouldn’t recognize:


Avoid foods with ingredients a third-grader cannot pronounce: Disodium guanylate, anyone? Sounds like a spelling bee tie breaker, huh?


Get out of the supermarket when you can: Those produce markets and local spots have real food, real nuts, locally made baked goods. Real food.


If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t.


It’s not food if it’s called the same in every language: Think Big Mac, Cheetos.


Stop eating before you’re full: Want to know why the French tend to be leaner even while eating cheese and bread? They follow this practice. So should you. So leave the pooch pants and the adjustable waistbands to Grandpa Fred. Japanese, Chinese and Indian Ayurevedic cultures all advise eating only until you’re  between 70 and 80 percent full. It shows in their lower rates of overweight and obese citizens.


Leave something on your plate: Mom isn’t around anymore to make you clean it, and this goes hand in hand with the rule above.


Treat treats as just that: No cake every night. Ice cream only as a special occasion. If you need dessert everynight, plan it into your caloric intake and make it usually healthy and only occasionally decadent.

Great Packaging comes with Great Advertising.

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One week before the Starbucks Spark of Hope Yearly Planner ended, I was able to get mine. This is my second planner (my first I got way back 2005 – yes I completed the card when I was 5 months pregnant!).

I love the planner because it has space (lots of it) to write on and a lot of things I can write on to. I am eyeing their Venti glass (a replica of their plastic frap cups) and their Valentine’s mug for my workstation too. Whoever is thinking of Starbucks’ promos are doing such a convincing job! I hope they can think of nice canvas promotional bags (the logo will rock) next!

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From East Coast to West Coast

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I had a relative who moved from Chicago to California and moved by land, since it was very expensive to move by plane. They drove for five days and employed cross country movers for their stuff. It was a great adventure, but they were carrying a toddler at that time so it was hard for them to travel long hours, they frequently took rest stops. It helped that both the husband and wife can drive so they can drive for longer stretches of time because they took turns driving. I cannot imagine doing it alone!

Security.

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Sooner or later, you need to think about retiring and pension. Allsup has now helped more than 130,000 people!! You need to seriously consider getting your social security disability from them. They can also be your medicare partner too. I have parents who are up for retirement this year, they are turning 60, so I am doing my best to make sure they retire with enough to make them live comfortably.

Gourmet Dining

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What do you do when you are on a Cancun All Inclusive Family Vacation? Aside from doing a lot of sleeping, sunbathing and swimming, I am sure all of us would be doing one thing too – a lot of eating. If you are booked in one of the exclusive resorts of the Karisma line of hotels along the Caribbean, you might want to try Gourmet Inclusive Dining.

It is an entirely new concept that caters to sophisticated world travelers who have already come to expect and appreciate the fine details behind a good dining experience. Yes, everything is included. But no, this is not your ordinary inclusive fare, service or locales. Karisma’s gourmet-level cuisine is served in sleek and sensual sit-down locales and fashion-forward bars. You won’t find a buffet table here (except for kids-they like them). What you will find is cooking that meets the standards of the best restaurants, prepared in a way that will excite and surprise the senses.